Auto Mfg Know What Brand Lube Is Being Used?

[Oily Ape]

On another forum, one gentleman swears a European auto mfg has a special additive in their brand of oil that their cars are designed to detect. If it does not detect this additive, the car knows it is not the correct oil brand.

Me and several others called hogwash.

What say the smart people here?

 

[Trav]

It is true, VW 508/509 has chemicals that VW uses for warranty verification, it is green and even after a full OCI it is detectable with UV light.
Edit: AFAIK the car itself cannot tell the difference.

 

[shortyb]

On another forum, one gentleman swears a European auto mfg has a special additive in their brand of oil that their cars are designed to detect. If it does not detect this additive, the car knows it is not the correct oil brand.

Me and several others called hogwash.

What say the smart people here?

Don't know if I'm a smart people, but I do know that VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group) use a tracer element in the 0W-20 oil as part of the VW 508.00 approval. But it is NOT just restricted to the VW branded oil. Several other brands have it as well as the blue dye added to make it green. Never have heard or seen any documented cases where the manufacturer used analysis to confirm the presence of this element for any kind of engine issue claim. So, your friend is partially right.

 

[Rand]

no cars cant detect the type of oil.. and throw a warning msg just from that.

 

[Pablo]

And even in the USA, if a dealer did this, he CANNOT LEGALLY VOID the warranty. Except for the weak and the ignorant.

If that dealer wants to team up with the manufacturer and say the oil caused the specific engine failure, then good luck to them. They will need to prove it, substantial prove it. Not just allege or say it.

 

[edyvw]

And even in the USA, if a dealer did this, he CANNOT LEGALLY VOID the warranty. Except for the weak and the ignorant.

If that dealer wants to team up with the manufacturer and say the oil caused the specific engine failure, then good luck to them. They will need to prove it, substantial prove it. Not just allege or say it.

True all that, but average individual cannot fight that leagl fight.

 

[kschachn]

On another forum, one gentleman swears a European auto mfg has a special additive in their brand of oil that their cars are designed to detect. If it does not detect this additive, the car knows it is not the correct oil brand.

Me and several others called hogwash.

What say the smart people here?

Sometimes I really can’t even grasp where this stuff comes from. It’s such garbage that you can’t believe people say it, much less believe it.

 

[kschachn]

True all that, but average individual cannot fight that leagl fight.

Yes but everyone seems to forget that “fight” would come about because of engine damage. Using an appropriate oil other than the one the manufacturer recommends will not cause damage.

 

[Rand]

Sometimes I really can’t even grasp where this stuff comes from. It’s such garbage that you can’t believe people say it, much less believe it.

Thats why the poster never says its them.. its always a friend or something they heard.
Usually borderline trolling.

 

[edyvw]

Yes but everyone seems to forget that “fight” would come about because of engine damage. Using an appropriate oil other than the one the manufacturer recommends will not cause damage.

Yes, if the dealership claims that damage is caused by inappropriate oil, one has to be prepared for a costly legal fight.

 

[Oily Ape]

Thats why the poster never says its them.. its always a friend or something they heard.
Usually borderline trolling.

Though that may be correct in many circumstances, unfortunately you are wrong on this one. Sorry.

I appreciate the info ya'll. I'll get back to my other forum later and let that poster know what smart folk says.

Thanks ya'll

 

[Pablo]

Yes, if the dealership claims that damage is caused by inappropriate oil, one has to be prepared for a costly legal fight.

It will not go to court. Worst case some level of arbitration. And I am telling you even if there were engine damage it would not be a precedent. There will be history

 

[kschachn]

Though that may be correct in many circumstances, unfortunately you are wrong on this one. Sorry.

I appreciate the info ya'll. I'll get back to my other forum later and let that poster know what smart folk says.

Thanks ya'll

Which forum is this?

 

[edyvw]

It will not go to court. Worst case some level of arbitration. And I am telling you even if there were engine damage it would not be a precedent. There will be history

Sure, all that. But can average person bet on that?

 

[kschachn]

Sure, all that. But can average person bet on that?

I certainly do and I’m pretty average.

 

[edyvw]

I certainly do and I’m pretty average.

I highly doubt your knowledge is average.

 

[Oily Ape]

https://www.survivalistboards.com

 

[kschachn]

Thats why the poster never says its them.. its always a friend or something they heard.
Usually borderline trolling.

It’s one thing to speculate or even claim that “the dealer denied my warranty because of blah… blah”. But in this case it’s way beyond this, that the vehicle has some sensor that detects a special additive in one particular brand. Do you understand how technically vapid that is and on how many levels?

 

[kschachn]

https://www.survivalistboards.com

I think there are other current and former Bitog members there

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Dealers don't even use OEM-branded oil anyway. They use random bulk oil

The only time dealers use OEM oil is for warranty work.

And no, the car itself cannot tell the difference.